How to Address the Pope, Roman Catholic FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank. For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog . For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide . How to Introduce the Pope? Dear Mr. Hickey. I will be meeting the Pope. If I introduce him, would you say, "May I introduce the Holy Father, Pope Francis" or would you say, "May I present His Holiness" and not use Francis in the introduction? ~ Meeting the Pope Dear Meeting the Pope: (All this is covered on page 282 in my book.) The Holy Father is so high he is never introduced to anyone: individuals are presented to The Holy Father. He requires no introduction: anyone about to meet the Pope already knows who he is. When he enters a room he is announced .... an aide says so all can hear "His Holiness" ... and that's it. You will be introduced to the Pope.

In that case the introducer would say "Your Holiness may I present (name of the other person)." When acknowledging the introduction, his name is ever used: He is addressed in conversation as "Your Holiness." This not using the name is the rule for most all the very high officials. For example, the Queen of the United Kingdom is never addressed as Queen Elizabeth ... she is always addressed as "Your Majesty" The President of the United States is addressed as Mr. President in direct conversation: not President (Name). -- Robert Hickey FYI: To see an interesting news story about a mistake by the President of the United States in addressing the Pope, cardinals, and bishops, click here. How to Address a Retired Pope? How do you address a former pope of the Roman Catholic Church? I bet you never considered that! -- B. E. in Georgia Dear B.E., It’s less that I have not considered it, than the Roman Catholic Church didn't list how to address a retired pope in it's modern literature. I don’t define how anyone is addressed … I just keep track of how current organizations address their current and former officials – so those of us outside their domain can address them correctly.

Now they’ve established there can be a former office holder. Some would have guessed that Pope Benedict would return to the form of address to which he was entitled before assuming office -- cardinal. There are already retired former office holders at that level. Having a retired cardinal addressed in the same way as current cardinals presents no confusion, since being a cardinal is not a singular (only-one-office-holder-at-a-time) position. * For example, when Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated the throne to her son Willem-Alexander in 2013, she returned to the form of address to which she was entitled prior to taking office: Princess. * However, in the UK, "Queen Elizabeth" – the Queen Mother (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, the present British sovereign (chief of state), and the widow of King George VI) continued to be addressed as Your Majesty when her daughter assumed the throne without much mishap.

In Belgium where for a period before the death of Fabiola in 2014, there were three queens: Queen Fabiola (1960-1993), her successor Queen Paola (1993-2013), and the current Queen Mathilde (2013- ), all addressed as Your Majesty. These situations are a bit different, but they show how other hierarchies have dealt with titles when there is more than one office holder in a typically one-office-holder-at-a-time office. -- Robert Hickey How to Address a Pope If Your Are Non-Christian? What is the appropriate form of address to the Pope in a letter from a non-Christian? -- DM in Norwood, MA Dear DM, Use the forms of address noted for the Roman Catholic Pope or Coptic Pope (whichever one you are referring to). To address a pope as Your Holiness is standard and is simply honoring another culture's etiquette. E.g., whether or not one is a subject or even thinks the Queen of the UK is majestic, everyone addresses the Queen as Your Majesty.

Holy Father is a typical salutation used by Catholics in correspondence directed to their Pope, but you might prefer to use Your Holiness since you might think he's not your Holy Father. As a closing use Very Respectfully, which is a standard closing for correspondence directed to very high officials. -- Robert Hickey How to Address the Pope: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Address the Pope Two Methods: Addressing the Pope in Writing Addressing the Pope in Person Community Q&A The Pope is the highest earthly office of the Catholic Church, and such an office demands respect, regardless of whether you are Catholic or not. As such, there are specific ways to address the Pope both in writing and in person. Here's what you need to know about each one. Steps Addressing the Pope in Writing 1 Address the Pope as "Your Holiness." Another acceptable way to address the Pope in writing would be "Most Holy Father." Note, however, that on the envelope, you should address the Pope as “His Holiness, ________” with the Pope's name in the blank. For instance, if writing to Pope Francis, the envelope would read, “His Holiness, Pope Francis.” 2 Maintain a respectful tone.

Throughout the body of the letter, your tone should be polite and gracious. You do not need to write in flowery language, but your language should be on par with how you would speak or be expected to speak inside a Catholic church. Avoid swearing, slang, derogatory language, or any other forms of impolite speech. Write out everything you need or want to say, but keep in mind that the Pope is a busy man. Instead of dragging on and spending extensive space on flattery, it would be better for all parties concerned if you kept the formalities basic and went directly into the purpose of your letter. 3 Conclude the letter politely. As a Roman Catholic, you should conclude the letter with a sentence along the lines of, "I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect. Your Holiness' most obedient and humble servant," before signing your name. [1] If you are not a Catholic, you can change the closing to something along the lines of, "With every good wish to Your Holiness, I am, Sincerely Yours," followed by your signature. Something as simple as "With every best wish. Sincerely yours," with a signature after it would also work for a non-Catholic writing to the Pope.

Regardless of the exact wording you choose, the level of respect you demonstrate should correspond to the minimum level of respect you should have for someone in the Pope's position, at the very least. Someone who does not follow Catholic teaching or who disagrees with the Pope should still recognize his position of authority and close in a respectful manner. Anyone who does follow Catholic teaching should demonstrate the respect expected from one addressing the leader of his or her faith on Earth. 4 Know the Vatican mailing address. If you plan to send your letter by traditional mail, you should write the address on the envelop as: His Holiness, Pope Francis / Apostolic Palace / 00120 Vatican City. Note that you should separate the address onto separate lines according to the placements of the slashes, /. Other ways to write the same address include: His Holiness, Pope Francis PP. / 00120 Via del Pellegrino / Citta del Vaticano His Holiness Pope Francis / Apostolic Palace / Vatican City His Holiness Pope Francis / Vatican City State, 00120 Do not write "Italy" on the envelop as the country. The Vatican is considered its own independent nation, completely separate from Italy.

5 Know the email address and fax number for the Vatican Press Office. If you would rather send the letter by e-mail or fax, you must go through the Vatican Press Office. The Pope does not have a personal, public e-mail address or fax number. The e-mail address is: av@pccs.va [2] The fax number is: +390669885373 Note that neither form of contact goes directly to the Pope, but correspondence you have for the Pope will get to him eventually when sent through either of these means. Method Addressing the Pope in Person 1 Refer to the Pope as "Holy Father.” Other appropriate ways to address the Pope in person include "Your Holiness" and "Most Holy Father." [3] “His Holiness” and “Holy Father” both address the Pope by his title and position in the Church. You should address the Pope only by these titles rather than by his name when speaking to him face-to-face. 2 Stand and applaud as the Pope enters. The amount of applause will vary depending on the venue, but you should always stand in respect once the Pope walks into the room you are in.

[4] Usually, if the venue is a small room with a small to mid-size crowd, the applause is quiet and polite. For large venues, however, like a stadium Mass, loud applause and even cheers are appropriate. 3 Genuflect as the Pope approaches. If the Pope approaches you directly, you should kneel with your right knee bent to the floor. You do not need to make the Sign of the Cross, as you would do while genuflecting to the Eucharist, but you should still bend at the knee. Genuflection is a sign of high respect. 4 Kiss his ring, when appropriate. If you are Catholic and if the Pope offers you his hand, that would be an appropriate time to plant a quick yet respectful kiss on the Piscatory ring, also known as the Ring of the Fisherman, traditionally worn by the Pope. On the other hand, if the Pope offers you his hand and you are not Catholic, you are not obligated to kiss the ring. You could simply shake his hand, instead. The Ring of the Fisherman is a symbol and mark of the office. By kissing it, you show both respect and sincere affection for the man who holds that office.

5 Speak respectfully, clearly, and concisely. Plan what to say beforehand so that you do not stumble too much over your words, and maintain a tone that is both clear and respectful the entire time. Start by introducing yourself. Give your name and say something important or fitting about yourself. If you came to the Vatican for a specific purpose or desired an audience with the Pope for a specific purpose, you should also state that. The Pope will guide the conversation, and you should let him do so. Keep your answers direct and brief, and speak in a clear, loud voice so that the Pope can hear you. 6 Stand up as the Pope leaves. As soon as the Pope stands to leave, you should stand, as well. Wait until he leaves the room before you sit down again or pay attention to anything else. Applause is not usually necessary at the end of the audience or event, but if you are in a large crowd and the crowd begins to applaud, it is appropriate to join in if you so desire. Community Q&A Is it better to write a letter to the Pope in English or in Spanish? wikiHow Contributor I am in a wheelchair. How do I address the pope?

wikiHow Contributor Bow your head or do whatever is possible for you to demonstrate respect and fidelity to his authority. Are disabled Christians also part of the Roman Catholic Church? wikiHow Contributor Of course they are. It's a religion and it does not matter if you are disabled or not. It's your faith and what you believe that matters. How can you meet the Holy Father? wikiHow Contributor Seek an audience with him at St. Peter's Church. Alternatively, make sure you attend any papal visits, such as charity sessions in foreign countries. Is it possible to receive a blessing from the Pope for good health for myself so I can take care of my terminally ill husband? wikiHow Contributor It has historically been done before, but to gain such a blessing you would need to gain an audience with the Pope. Is the Pope God? wikiHow Contributor No, the Pope is not God, the Pope is just the highest Earthly official for the Catholic Church. How do I write a letter to the Pope? wikiHow Contributor A letter to any dignitary should be polite, formal and neat. Introduce yourself first and then go into your reason for writing to him. Keep your writing style and layout formal.

Is it OK to receive Holy Communion by a layperson and is it OK to receive Holy Communion in your hands? wikiHow Contributor Yes, laypeople are trained as extraordinary ministers to offer communion, and communion in the hand is permitted. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips You can also contact the Vatican Press Office by telephone. The official (international) phone number for the Vatican Press Office is +390669881022. You will not be able to speak directly to the Pope by calling this number, though. The Pope also has has a Twitter account. You should not expect him to reply to any tweets, but you can follow his Twitter at: . Dress for the occasion if you are meeting the Pope in person. If you plan to go to a somewhat official event at which the Pope will be present, or if you are invited to an audience with the Pope, you should dress in your best clothes out of respect. Men should wear a suit, tie, and polished shoes. Women should wear either a suit or nice dress, with the arms covered and the hemline past the knees.

Modesty is the key in looking respectful. On the other hand, if you are going to a stadium Mass or simply watching the Pope along the “popemobile” route, you can dress casually. Your clothes should still be modest and tasteful, however. Updated: Views: 141,988 "I am interested in writing a letter to Pope Francis, but had no idea how to address him. This article was most helpful; it also gave me the Pope's physical address so my concerns will reach him. Thank you so much for your help."..." more - Anonymous "Every detail is very interesting to me, especially the way of writing, meeting, and greeting the pope, most Holy Father. Your guidance helped me write my letter, which will be sent by post in a more respectful way. Thank you."..." more - Swarnie Fernando "I plan to write to Pope Francis. As a non-Catholic, I wasn't sure of the protocol. Emphasis of the importance of respect for his standing in the Catholic community made particular sense to me to promote religious tolerance."..." more - Anonymous "As a devout Roman Catholic, I am very worried about making a mistake when writing a letter to His Holiness.

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The formal way to have a meeting with the Pope was also useful and enlightening for me."..." more - Rachel Guillen "Thought about writing to the Holy Father for some time. This describes step-by-step how to do so. I now feel very comfortable with the process. Thank you."..." more - Marsha Wiebeld "I might incorporate some more instructions if the writer isn't a Catholic but the author of this wikiHow had a couple and I think that they were okay."..." more - Aidan Robb "I wrote to His Holiness and got his reply. I'm very happy because I'm not Catholic, I'm Sikh from a remote village of Punjab. Thanks to this article."..." more - Jagjiwan Singh Very useful points raised, e.g. how to address His Holiness and accessible via email through his offices. - Nina Samuela It was so helpful with my homework. I'm so happy that this article exists, do more please. - Mackenzie Zyes This was really helpful with my assignment. Thank you very much for the information. - Anonymous The best that I've seen. Very straight-forward and helpful. I would recommend this. - Pam Jonson Mailing address and correct wording to address the pope were very helpful.

- Anonymous I think your directions were clear and concise, making it easy to follow. - Arlene Delaney It showed me the proper way to address His Holiness in writing. - Rosemary Danielewicz Your directions were clear and concise. Thank you. - Kelly Ann Dudden It was helpful, in fact, all aspects. - Alabi David How to Address Church Officials How to Address Church Officials FATHER WILLIAM SAUNDERS At the diocesan anniversary Mass this August, I had the pleasure of meeting Bishop Loverde. I am embarrassed to say that I was not sure how to address him — just Bishop, your eminence, or what. A proper etiquette does exist for how we address our Church leaders. As a point of courtesy, all Catholics should be familiar with these forms of address. Even though we may live in an increasingly informal world, such good formalities help to make us respectful of proper authority. So lets start at the top — the Pope.

A person would greet Pope John Paul II as "Your Holiness," "Most Holy Father," or "Holy Father." A letter written to him would be addressed, "His Holiness, Pope John Paul II," with the salutation, "Your Holiness" or "Most Holy Father." Next in the hierarchy comes the Cardinal. A person would greet a Cardinal, for instance Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore, by saying, "Your Eminence" or "Your Lordship" (which is very British). In addressing a letter to Cardinal Keeler, one would write, "His Eminence, William Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore" with the salutation, "Your Eminence," "Most Eminent Cardinal," or "My Lord Cardinal." Lately, some people will reverse the word order, saying, "Cardinal William Keeler" instead of "William Cardinal Keeler." The formal word order originated in the time when last names were not common, but individuals were known by occupations or even places.

For example, "John, the Smith" (or Blacksmith) eventually became "John Smith." The same evolution occurred with Cardinals: What would have been "William, the Cardinal" would now be, with the use of family names, "William Cardinal Keeler." Another interesting diversion for us concerns a Patriarch. Patriarchs are Cardinals but have honorary precedence over a Cardinal. For example, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is Archbishop Michael Sabbah. A person would greet him, saying, "Your Beatitude." In addressing a letter to him, one would write, "His Beatitude, Michael Sabbah, The Patriarch of Jerusalem" with the salutation, "Your Beatitude." Both an Archbishop and a Bishop would be greeted as "Your Excellency" or "Your Grace" (again very British). For example, one would greet Bishop Loverde as "Your Excellency." In writing to him (for instance, about how much you enjoy this column — only kidding), you would address the letter, "The Most Reverend Paul S.

Loverde, Bishop of Arlington," with the salutation, "Your Excellency." Although some people today informally would approach Bishop Loverde and say, for instance, "Bishop, how are you?" one should properly say, "Bishop Loverde, how are you?" or "Your Excellency, how are you?" Just as a person would never approach Pope John Paul II and simply say, "Pope, how are you?" the title of office, in this case "bishop," should not be used in an address without either the definite article the or a proper name. A Monsignor would be greeted as "Monsignor." A letter to Monsignor Bradican, for example, would be addressed as "Reverend Monsignor Thomas Bradican," or "Reverend and Dear Monsignor," with the salutation, "Dear Monsignor." (The proper abbreviation is "Rev.

Msgr.") Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, some Monsignori had the distinction of "Right Reverend Monsignor" or "Very Reverend Monsignor." Such distinctions are no longer made among Monsignori except for certain members of the Papal Household and those who serve in special offices of the Vatican Curia. Finally, we come to the Priest. He would be greeted simply as "Father," which reflects his spiritual fatherhood to those entrusted to his care by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. A letter to him would be addressed, "The Reverend William P. Saunders," for example, with the salutation, "Dear Father Saunders" or "Reverend and Dear Father Saunders." Some "Fathers" are also formally addressed "Very Reverend" when they have a special duty; for example, Father Frank Ready, the Dean of Deanery II, would be addressed, "The Very Reverend Frank Ready." While this review is not exhaustive of all of the Church offices, the major ones have been considered. Further information may be found in the Official Directory for the Diocese of Arlington and The Church Visible by James Charles Noonan, Jr. Acknowledgement Saunders, Rev. William.

"How to Address Church Officials." Arlington Catholic Herald. This article is reprinted with permission from Arlington Catholic Herald. The Author Father William Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. He is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. The above article is a "Straight Answers" column he wrote for the Arlington Catholic Herald. Father Saunders is the author of Straight Answers , a book based on 100 of his columns, and Straight Answers II . Proper Etiquette Proper Etiquette (This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald .) A proper etiquette does exist for how we address our Church leaders. As a point of courtesy, all Catholics should be familiar with these forms of address. Even though we may live in an increasingly informal world, such good formalities help to make us respectful of proper authority. So let’s start at the top – the pope. A person would greet Pope John Paul II as “Your Holiness,” “Most Holy Father,” or “Holy Father.” A letter written to him would be addressed, “His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,” with the salutation, “Your Holiness” or “Most Holy Father.” Next in the hierarchy comes the cardinal.

A person would greet a cardinal, for instance Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, by saying, “Your Eminence” or “Your Lordship” (which is very British). In addressing a letter to Cardinal McCarrick, one would write, “His Eminence, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington” with the salutation, “Your Eminence,” “Most Eminent Cardinal,” or “My Lord Cardinal.” In recent times, some people will reverse the word order, saying, “Cardinal Theodore McCarrick” instead of “Theodore Cardinal McCarrick.” The formal word order originated in the time when last names were not common, but individuals were known by occupations or even places. For example, “John, the Smith” (or Blacksmith) eventually became “John Smith.” The same evolution occurred with cardinals: What would have been “Theodore, the Cardinal” would now be, with the use of family names, “Theodore Cardinal McCarrick.” Another interesting diversion for us concerns a patriarch. Patriarchs are cardinals but have honorary precedence over a cardinal. For example, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is Archbishop Michael Sabbah.

A person would greet him, saying, “Your Beatitude.” In addressing a letter to him, one would write, “His Beatitude, Michael Sabbah, The Patriarch of Jerusalem” with the salutation, “Your Beatitude.” Both an archbishop and a bishop would be greeted as “Your Excellency” or “Your Grace” (again very British). For example, one would greet Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington, Virginia, as “Your Excellency.” In writing to him you would address the letter, “The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington,” with the salutation, “Your Excellency.” Although some people today informally would approach Bishop Loverde and say, for instance, “Bishop, how are you?” one should properly say, “Bishop Loverde, how are you?” or “Your Excellency, how are you?” Worse yet, I was at a dinner conference once in the diocese and the master of ceremonies said, “We are so happy. Tonight we have bishop.” I was not sure whether “bishop” was the main course or the guest speaker.

Just as a person would never approach Pope John Paul II and simply say, “Pope, how are you?” the title of office, in this case “bishop,” should not be used in an address without either the definite article the or a proper name. A monsignor would be greeted as “monsignor.” A letter to Monsignor Bradican, for example, would be addressed as “Reverend Monsignor Francis Bradican,” or “Reverend and Dear Monsignor,” with the salutation, “Dear Monsignor.” (The proper abbreviation is “Rev. Msgr.”) Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, some Monsignori had the distinction of “Right Reverend Monsignor” or “Very Reverend Monsignor.” Such distinctions are no longer made among Monsignori except for certain members of the Papal Household and those who serve in special offices of the Vatican Curia. Finally, we come to the priest. He would be greeted simply as “father,” which reflects his spiritual fatherhood to those entrusted to his care by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. A letter to him would be addressed, “The Reverend William P.

Saunders,” for example, with the salutation, “Dear Father Saunders” or “Reverend and Dear Father Saunders.” Some “Fathers” are also formally addressed “Very Reverend” when they have a special duty; for example, Father Frank Ready, the Dean of Deanery II, would be addressed, “The Very Reverend Frank Ready.” While this review is not exhaustive of all of the Church offices, the major ones have been considered. Further information may be found in The Church Visible by James Charles Noonan Jr. Papal Etiquette: What to Do If You Meet the Pontiff : NPR Popemobile Gallery: Trace the History of Papal Vehicles If you get a chance to meet Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the U.S., how should you act? NPR asked Monsignor K. Bartholomew Smith. Smith knew Pope Benedict XVI back when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and has met the pontiff a few times since Benedict ascended to the papacy three years ago. The pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Md., formerly served at the Vatican as secretary to Cardinal William Baum. Here's his advice on proper papal protocol: How should I dress?

If you are invited to an audience with the pope or will be attending an event where he'll be present, this is a time to put on your best, says Smith. For men, that means a jacket and tie and polished shoes. For women, a nice dress or suit works best — preferably one that covers the arms and has a hemline below the knees. But Smith says if you're going to one of the stadium Masses or gathering along the popemobile route, leave your high heels at home and feel free to wear your favorite baseball cap. Casual dress is just fine. Article continues after sponsorship What do I do when the pope enters? Stand and applaud, the monsignor says. He says applause for the pope often varies according to the type and place of the event. In a small room, people often clap quietly, as if they were at a golf tournament. But in a big venue, such as a stadium, the crowd frequently greets the pope with loud cheers and a thunderous ovation. You're welcome to join in. What if the pope approaches me? Don't just stand there — genuflect. That means bend at the knee, for you non-Catholics. Do I kiss the ring?

Yes, if you are Catholic and the pope offers his hand. If you're not Catholic, you can opt to shake his hand. That's what President Bush did on Tuesday when he met the pope at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C. The ring is a mark of the papacy and, according to Smith, kissing it is a sign of respect and affection. What do I call the pope? Address him as "Your Holiness" or "Holy Father." What should I say to him? Introduce yourself and tell him something about you. Decide in advance what you're going to say, but let him lead the conversation. Keep your answers short and direct. And speak clearly. Smith says sometimes people are so nervous, they whisper. Make sure the pope can hear you. What happens at the end of the event? When the pope gets up to leave, you should also stand up. Wait for him to leave the room before turning your attention to anything else. Smith says Pope Benedict is a warm and humble man, who tries to make people comfortable in his presence.

"You've got to be very careful if you introduce yourself to him," says Smith, "because he's very likely to remember." Addressing Religious Leaders | Tanenbaum.org Addressing Religious Leaders You are here: Home / Tanenbaum Resources / Addressing Religious Leaders Imagine a more peaceful world that respects differences. We are committed to making that vision a reality. Photo: CryJack Addressing Religious Leaders For business letters, much uncertainty can be avoided by using “Greetings:” instead of “Dear So-and-So:” as the salutation. In general, if the religious leader has a doctorate (Ph.D., Th.D., D.Min.), this is indicated on the envelope in one of two ways: by inserting “Dr.” after the religious title (e.g., The Reverend Dr. John Smith), OR, by inserting the degree designation at the end of the name (e.g., The Reverend John Smith, Ph.D.). Choose a religion from the list below to get started. Customs vary Bahá’i No clergy; the host of a Baha’i gathering should be addressed just as s/he would be addressed in theworkplace.

Buddhism: Pureland Monk; Abbot; Gyalwa Karmapa [head of this lineage] His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa [Abbot] The Venerable Rinpoche Your Holiness Dear Ven. Priest (who may be functioning as a Rector; Curate; Vicar; Chaplain) The Reverend Dear Fr. * When the priest is a woman, practice varies. Some prefer “Dear Mother Smith”; others prefer “Dear Elizabeth.” Beginning a letter simply “Greetings” might be easiest. Fr. ; Fr. ; *Mother (or, according to her preference, see left). Dean (of a cathedral or seminary) The Very Reverend Dear Bishop -or- Your Grace Bishop -or-Bishop -or- Your Grace Sister, OSH** Brother , BSG** (If also ordained, it would also be proper to write “The Reverend Ellen Francis, OSH”, and, “The Reverend Tobias Haller, BSG”) ***OSH and BSG indicate the order to which these exemplars belong Dear Sister ; Dear Brother Christianity: Church of Christ (not United Church of Christ) Minister Titles are not used; leaders are addressed as would anyone in the workplace.

Dabtarra Christianity: Jehovah’s Witnesses While the term “minister” is used, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that a clergy class and special titles are improper Sister Christianity: Orthodox The hiearchy of each autocephalous Orthodox Church (and Middle Eastern and North African Catholic churches) has its own peculiar set of titles; there is no standard title for the head of a Church. His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch Your All Holiness His Beatitude NAME #, Pope and Patriarch of Location Your Eminence, Your Holiness His Beatitude NAME, Archbishop of LOCATION, Metropolitan LOCATION Your Beatitude The Very Reverend Archimandrite -OR- Archimandrite Dear Fr. The Very Reverend Igumen -OR- Igumen -OR- The Very Reverend Abbot -OR- Abbot Dear Fr. Christianity: Pentecostal, Holiness Traditions Minister; some groups have an array of religious leaders with various titles, such as Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, among others. The Reverend -OR- Rev. Dear Pastor Pastor “Reverend” is used frequently, but is technically incorrect.

(Technically, “Reverend” is an adjective, not a noun.) Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist Christianity: Protestants, Free Church (including Lutheran, Adventist, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Disciples of Christ, Mennonite, United Church of Christ; many others) Minister Dear Pastor Pastor “Reverend” is used frequently, but is technically incorrect. (Technically, “Reverend” is an adjective, not a noun.) Bishop -OR- The Rev. Bishop Dear His Holiness, Pope John Paul II -OR- His Holiness, the Pope Your Holiness -OR- Most Holy Father Your Holiness Right Reverend (add religious order initials) Dear Father Rev.

(add religious order initials) Dear Reverend Father FN (add religious order initials) Dear Reverend Mother Leaders very ‘high’ on the ladder of spirituality Swamiji Secular or semi-religious, theoretical or philosophical leaders, or highly respected priests Panditji, Pandit, Acharyaji, Acharya, Shastriji, Shastri (same forms of use as above; word choice depends on region of India) Common forms of address – always acceptable (male) (female) Shree, Shreeman, Shreeyut, Sri Mr. or Mrs. will always be acceptable in an American context Imam; Imam Jain No official clergy. Serious believers become monks or nuns, called Sadhu (male) and Sadhvi (female). Non-initiates form the classes of laypersons. (Shravak and Shravika). Oriental Jews (from Near Eastern countries) may call their rabbis “Hakam,” “Gaon,” or “Mori.” Dear Rabbi Cantor; Cantor Quaker/Society of Friends No clergy; a Quaker should be addressed just as he/she would be addressed in the workplace.

Scientology Minister Reverend, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles (or whatever the person’s position in the church hierarchy is) Dear Reverend Reverend If you are unsure of the person’s official title. Mr., Mrs., or Ms. is appropriate. Shinto Sensei; Sikhism (No ordained clergy) Since Sikhs do not have an ordained clergy or a priestly class, these titles are used for both religious leaders and laity. Males: Sardar Note: Often for males, “Bhai” can be used in place of “Sardar”. If one wants to be extremely polite, as is the manner in Punjab, the Sikh homeland, then one would suffix the honorific “Ji” after the last name. This custom is observed most frequently in conversation. Generally, during normal conversation, the first or last names are not always used. Instead, one would use Sardar Sahib (for males) and Sardarani Sahiba (for females). Here one would not use “Ji” as a suffix since “Sahib” and “Sahiba” take its place instead.

Unitarian Universalist Dear Pastor ; Dear Pastor “Reverend” is used frequently, but is technically incorrect. (Technically, “Reverend” is an adjective, not a noun.) Zoroastrian Addressing Clergy ``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D Addressing Clergy Note that priests and their superiors and religious should be treated with the utmost respect. The rules of etiquette that apply when dealing with people of different social standing apply here as well, for example: during introductions, laymen are introduced to priests or their superiors and religious (e.g., "Father, I present Mrs. Doe. Mrs. Doe, this is Father Smith."); clergy and religious should be seated at the right hand of a host (or hostess, as the case may be); at social gatherings, they should be seated in the place of honor, etc.

A note on kneeling: Kneel on the left knee for persons (Kings, Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Cardinals, Popes, etc.); Kneel on the right knee for Christ in the tabernacle; Kneel on both knees when the Eucharist is exposed. Latin Catholic Envelope Address His Holiness, Pope John Paul II (abbreviated: H.H. John Paul II) Letter Salutation Your Holiness Formal Closing Kissing the Sacred Foot Abbreviations His Holiness: H.H. Other Kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, bow at the waist and proceed. Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Women should have their heads covered and be dressed in black (only Queens wear white in the Pope's presence); men must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Note: If you'd like a very nice papal souvenir, bring a brand new white zucchetto with you when meeting the Pope. His Holiness will trade his for yours.

Cardinal Envelope Address His Eminence, John Cardinal Doe, Archbishop of Erewhon ("Cardinal" goes between first and last names) Letter Salutation Most Revererend Eminence Most Eminent Cardinal Formal Closing Kissing the Sacred Purple Abbreviations His Eminence: H.E.; Eminence: Emus. (Eminentissimus) Other Kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, bow at the waist and proceed (do not do either if the Pope is present). Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Patriarch Envelope Address His Beatitude Letter Salutation Your Beatitude Other Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. When it is your own Patriarch, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, or if he is not your own Patriarch, bow at the waist and kiss his ring (do not do either if the Pope is present).

Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Archbishop/Primate Envelope Address The Most Reverend John Doe, Archbishop of Erewhon Letter Salutation Your Excellency Formal Closing Kissing the Sacred Ring Abbreviations Archieps. (Archiepiscopus), or Arch. Other Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. When it is your own Archbishop, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, or if he is not your own Archbishop, bow at the waist and kiss his ring (do not do either if the Pope is present). Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Bishop Envelope Address The Most Reverend John Doe, Bishop of Erewhon The Right Reverend John Doe, Bishop of Erewhon (British) Letter Salutation Your Excellency Formal Closing Kissing the Sacred Ring Abbreviations Ep., Epus. (Episcopus) Other Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence.

When it is your own Bishop, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, or if he is not your own Bishop, bow at the waist and kiss his ring (do not do either if the Pope is present). Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Monsignor Envelope Address The Very Right Reverend Monsignor Doe The Reverend Monsignor John Doe Letter Salutation Dear Monsignor Abbreviations Right Reverend Father: RR. (for Reverendissimus) Other Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat reverential gestures when leaving his presence. Priest Face-to-face Greeting "Father," "Reverend Father," or "Your Reverence." Though it is common, it's not proper to address a priest using his first name, as in "Hi, Father John!" Envelope Address The Reverend Father John Doe Letter Salutation Dear Father Reverend and Dear Father Doe Abbreviations Father: F. or Fr. Fathers, Plural: FF. Reverend Father: Rev. Fr.

(or "R.P." for Reverendus Pater) Other Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. If a priest visits your home, it is customary to ask for his blessing; the simple words, "Father, bless" are fine. When blessed by a priest, kneel on both knees until he is finished. It is also customary for many people, especially those in Latin cultures, to kiss the priest's hand to honor the Eucharist, as they alone are able to consecrate (unless the Pope is present). Deacon Envelope Address Reverend Mr Deacon Letter Salutation Dear Mr. Deacon Abbot Envelope Address Right Reverend John Doe, (Initials of Order) Ex. Right Reverend Doe, O.S.D. Abbreviations Abbot: Ab.

Letter Salutation Dear Right Reverend Father Dear Abbot Metropolitan Face-to-face Greeting Your Beatitude Envelope Address His Beatitude the Most Blessed John, Archbishop of Erewhon and Metropolitan X Church in ErewhonII Letter Salutation Dear Metropolitan Doe Archbishop Envelope Address His Eminence the Most Reverend John, Archbishop of Erewhon Letter Salutation Dear Archbishop John (it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations with "Bless, Your Eminence". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Bless, Your Eminence.") Bishop Envelope Address The Right Reverend Bishop John Letter Salutation Your Grace (it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations with "Bless, Your Grace". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Bless, Your Grace.") Other When greeting a Bishop, make a bow by reaching down and touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say Bless, Your Grace. The Bishop will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands. Kiss his hand.

Archpriest Envelope Address The Very Reverend John Doe Letter Salutation Dear Father (it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations with "Bless, Father". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Father, bless.") Other When greeting an archpriest, make a bow by reaching down and touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say Bless, Father. The Priest will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands. Kiss his hand. Priest Face-to-face Greeting Father (First Name) Ex. Father John Envelope Address Married Priests: The Reverend Father John Monk Priests: The Reverend Hieromonk Letter Salutation Dear Father John (it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations with "Bless, Father".

It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Father, bless.") Priests' wives Greek: Presbytera Jane Russian: Matushka Jane Serbian: Papadiya Jane Ukrainian: Panimatushka Jane Other When greeting a priest, make a bow by reaching down and touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say Bless, Father. The Priest will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands. Kiss his hand. Deacon Forms of Address Forms of Address The Most Reverend First name, Archbishop of Place name Your Eminence The Most Reverend Full name, Archbishop of Place name Your Excellency The Venerable Full name, Archdeacon of Place name Dear Archdeacon Last name The Right Reverend Full name, Bishop of Place name Right Reverend Sir or Dear Bishop Last name Bishop, other Protestant The Most Reverend Full name, Bishop of Place name Your Excellency or Dear Bishop Last name Cardinal His Eminence First name Cardinal Last name Your Eminence The Reverend Full name or The Reverend Full name, D.D. Dear Mr./Ms.

Last name or Dear Dr. Last name Dean of a Cathedral, Episcopal The Very Reverend Full name, Dean of Place name Dear Dean Last name The Right Reverend Monsignor Full name Dear Monsignor His All Holiness the Patriarch of Place name Your All Holiness His Holiness the Patriarch of Place name Your Holiness Your Holiness or Most Holy Father Priest, Roman Catholic The Reverend Full name or The Reverend Full name, S.J. (or other order) Dear Reverend Father or Dear Father Rabbi, man or woman Rabbi Full name or Rabbi Last name Dear Rabbi Last name The Honorable Full name, The Ambassador of the United States Sir/Madam or Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador Ambassador to the U.S. His/Her Excellency Full name, The Ambassador of Place name Excellency or Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador Secretary General, United Nations His/Her Excellency Full name, Secretary General of the United Nations Dear Mr./Madam/Madame Secretary general The Honorable Full name, United States Representative to the United Nations Sir/Madam or Dear Mr./Ms.

Last name United Nations Representative, foreign His/Her Excellency Full name, Representative of Place name to the United Nations Excellency or My dear Mr./Madam Last name Government officials

Question: What is the correct term to use when addressing the Pope?
Answer: Your Holiness